**District Judge Trina L. Thompson** was appointed to the Northern District of California by President Joseph R. Biden in 2022. Judge Thompson was born in 1961 in Oakland, California. She was nominated on January 3, 2022, confirmed on May 18, 2022, and received her commission on August 5, 2022, filling a vacancy left by Judge Phyllis Jean Hamilton. She served for nearly two decades as a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court and has been an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley. **Education** - University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 1986 - University of California, Berkeley, A.B., 1983 **Career** - Alameda County Public Defender's Office (1986–1991), including post-graduate clerkship - Private practice, San Jose and Oakland (1991–2000) - Juvenile Court Commissioner, Superior Court of California, Alameda County (2001–2002) - Judge, Superior Court of California, Alameda County (2003–2022) - Lecturer, UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Department (2014–2021) - Adjunct Professor, UC Berkeley School of Law (2018–present)
**Courthouse:** 450 Golden Gate Ave, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102 **Chambers:** Courtroom 9, 19th Floor **Phone:** (415) 522-2039 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Bhavna Sharma (tltcrd@cand.uscourts.gov)
Courtesy copies are required for attorney filers. Details: 1 copy, delivery within 24 hours, by hand delivery. Chambers copies required for non-pro se litigants; must be double-sided, three-hole punched, tabbed for declarations/exhibits, and bound if over 25 pages.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery. Details: 5 pages. Discovery disputes require joint letter (max 5 pages) after good faith effort.
Judge Trina L. Thompson's rule states these limits: 3 pages. A request to change a case schedule date must be made by a joint statement of no more than three pages demonstrating particularized good cause.
Judge Trina L. Thompson's rule states these limits: 1 pages. For each disputed jury instruction, each party's explanation of why the Court should give its proposed version is limited to one page.
Judge Trina L. Thompson's formatting rule includes file format docx. Proposed orders must be in Word format.
The rule requires local rule certificate. Parties must follow FRCP, Local Rules, and General Orders, with non-compliance subject to sanctions.
The rule requires certificate of service. Plaintiff/removing defendant must serve standing orders and file certificate of service.
Parties may contact Judge Trina L. Thompson's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email TLTCRD@cand.uscourts.gov. No ex parte contact with judge; contact Courtroom Deputy for scheduling.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Trina L. Thompson. Documents under seal must comply with Civil Local Rule 79-5 (modified for Judge Thompson); non-conforming motions may be summarily terminated.
Judge Trina L. Thompson's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Trial dates set at initial case management conference are not continued absent compelling good cause.
Bundling is encouraged for covered papers before Judge Trina L. Thompson. Later-filing parties should cite to earlier exhibits and avoid duplicates; joint appendix encouraged.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All pretrial filings in criminal cases must be submitted to the San Francisco Clerk's Office.
Parties must follow FRCP, Local Rules, and General Orders, with non-compliance subject to sanctions.
Plaintiff/removing defendant must serve standing orders and file certificate of service.
No ex parte contact with judge; contact Courtroom Deputy for scheduling.
Civil motions generally heard on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
Civil case management conferences generally on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
Civil pretrial conferences generally on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Check scheduling notes online; don't set dates on full days; contact Courtroom Deputy for scheduling.
Court may hear oral argument if junior lawyer (≤5 years) will argue.
Parties may self-identify pronouns and honorifics in filings or verbally.
Joint case management statement required; no incorporation by reference.
Pro se litigants may file separate case management statements.
Parties must review ESI guidelines and meet/confer on ESI topics before initial case management conference.
Parties must file ADR Stipulation and Proposed Order form at least 7 days before case management conference.
Default ADR timing is within 90 days of initial case management conference.
Disagreements on ADR form/timing must be explained in joint statement for conference discussion.
Trials are scheduled 18-24 months from initial case management conference.
Pretrial Conference is scheduled 4-6 weeks before trial.
Joint Pretrial Statements are due 4 weeks before Pretrial Conference.
Last day to hear dispositive motions is at least 8 weeks before pretrial conference.
Daubert motions must be filed and heard by dispositive motion deadline.
At least 8 weeks must separate dispositive/Daubert motions deadline from final pretrial conference.
Court expects many cases to be tried within 12 months of case management conference.
Counsel must justify requests for longer pretrial periods at initial case management conference.
Parties must file joint 3-page statement with particularized good cause to move scheduled dates.
Trial dates set at initial case management conference are not continued absent compelling good cause.
Attorney at case management conference must have full authority to make decisions.
Court may vacate conference and issue order based on parties' case management statement.
All case management conferences are conducted via Zoom videoconference unless specially set.
Courtroom Deputy publishes notice on docket with conference access information before case management conference.
Remote participants are prohibited from photographing, recording, or rebroadcasting court proceedings.